Australia ‘deeply concerned’ about China’s live fire drills as Xi calls reunification ‘unstoppable’
Taiwan’s defense ministry said 77 Chinese aircraft and 25 navy and coast guard ships operated around the island in the 24 hours before Wednesday. The ministry spokesman described the Chinese Communist Party’s action as an “aggressive and militaristic” provocation that endangered regional stability.
In February 2025, a flotilla of three Chinese warships traveled within 150 nautical miles of Sydney and set off alarm bells after conducting live-fire exercises in the Tasman Sea, forcing the diversion of commercial flights. Concerns about Chinese navy actions near Australia resurfaced last month under government surveillance Chinese navy task group In the Philippine Sea.
Australia does not officially recognize Taiwan as a sovereign nation but has long remained committed to preserving the island’s current independence.
In July, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese questioned the role Australia could play in a potential conflict between the US and China over Taiwan, saying: “We support the status quo when it comes to Taiwan, we do not support any unilateral action there.”
In July, the Financial Times reported that US Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby, who ordered a review of the AUKUS nuclear submarine treaty, had privately urged Australia and Japan to support the US in any future conflict over Taiwan.
In November 2025, Taiwan’s representative to Australia, Douglas Hsu, implored the federal government to consider including the island nation in the agreement.
With Bloomberg and Reuters.
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